GatewayRedbirds.com

Yep. For whatever reason, he simply doesn't want to be "the man". I know that I'm not alone in wanting him to want that. To have the "want to" to use his superior athletic abilities to the max. I think that's part of the hate that gets projected upon him. At least it is for me. Remember, right after the decision he said he joined the Heat, in part, because he didn't want to have to score 30 points a night and take over a game. What? You are perhaps the most physically gifted player to ever touch a basketball, and you don't want to take over a game?

Simmons sees it the same way:

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I think the widespread hate is due less to the personalities involved rather than the dislike of trying to stack the deck to win a championship. Same kind of universal rooting against the Lakers when they brought in Malone and Payton, the Yankees and any other teams that have blatantly tried to buy championships. Who doesn't love to see them fail versus a lesser, or at least lesser heralded and lesser paid opponent? Princeton beating a bunch of former blue chip high school All Americans at UCLA? Anyone not specifically rooting for the highly favored opponent is going to root for the upset. I even root against the Dream Team. In this year's case, anyone playing the Heat was going to be considered an underdog and the fan favorite. But LeBron's inability to handle that is now going to turn it into a more personal matter and may follow him for years to come, wherever he may play. Just like a kid that gets teased in school, when they respond in a certain way they're only going to encourage it more.

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The Cleveland GM was the wrong guy to send the message, but I think he's right. There are no shortcuts.....none.

I don't know of a good answer to "What do you have to say to the people that wanted you to fail?" Well, there's the obvious response of winning the championship next year. On that night though, if faced with that question, I would have said "They can go [expletive] themselves."

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We want information. Information.

Which is basically what he said. And that probably would have been his response if they had won, also.

But it's a fair question to ask him. When you put yourself on a pedestal, you take the risk of people wanting you to fall off of that pedestal. A little modesty/humility would probably help Lebron's image. He set himself up to look like a fool with "The Decision" and the whole neon light celebration before the team had played a game. He put himself in this position, so he needs to take the heat (no pun intended).

If you're smart, you say something to the effect of, "Well those people got what they wanted, and I'm not happy about it. I have to get better. I will get better. Hopefully this time next year, all of those people will be very disappointed."

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"If it was anyone but Carp, I would have said, 'No,'" Matheny said. "Anyone but Carp."

Wade handled the "did you choke" question very adroitly. LeBron might learn a thing or two from that.

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Silence is golden.

That Simmons article is fantastic. LeBron has never had to grow up...why would anyone expect him to all of a sudden?

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I agree. I wonder if both had agreed in advance that Wade would handle those kinds of questions.